Despite the immense potential in environmental remediation, the translation of magnetic nanomaterials (MNMs) from laboratory innovations to practical, field-scale applications remains hindered by significant technical and environmental challenges. This is particularly evident in soil environments—which are inherently more complex than aquatic systems and have received comparatively less research attention. Beginning with an outline of the fundamental properties that make iron-based MNMs effective as adsorbents and catalysts for heavy metals and organic pollutants, this review systematically examines their core contaminant removal mechanisms. These include adsorption, catalytic degradation (e.g., via Fenton-like reactions), and magnetic recovery. However, the practical implementation of MNMs is constrained by several key limitations, such as particle agglomeration, oxidative instability, and reduced efficacy in multi-pollutant systems. More critically, major uncertainties persist regarding their long-term environmental fate and biocompatibility. In light of these challenges, we propose that future efforts should prioritize the rational design of stable, selective, and intelligent MNMs through advanced surface engineering and interdisciplinary collaboration.

To assess the concentration characteristics and ecological risks of potential toxic elements (PTEs) in water and sediment, 17 water samples and 17 sediment samples were collected in the Xiyu River to analyze the content of Cr, Ni, As, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd and Hg, and the environmental risks of PTEs was evaluated by single-factor pollution index, Nemerow comprehensive pollution index, potential ecological risk, and human health risk assessment. The results indicated that Hg in water and Pb, Cu, Cd in sediments exceeded the corresponding environmental quality standards. In the gold mining factories distribution river section (X8-X10), there was a significant increase in PTEs in water and sediments, indicating that the arbitrary discharge of tailings during gold mining flotation is the main cause of PTEs pollution. The increase in PTEs concentration at the end of the Xiyu River may be related to the increased sedimentation rate, caused by the slowing of the riverbed, and the active chemical reactions at the estuary. The single-factor pollution index and Nemerow pollution index indicated that the river water was severely polluted by Hg. Potential ecological risk index indicated that the risk of Hg in sediments was extremely high, the risk of Cd was high, and the risk of Pb and Cu was moderate. The human health risk assessment indicated that As in water at point X10 and Hg in water at point X9 may pose non-carcinogenic risk to children through ingestion, and As at X8–X10 and Cd at X14 may pose carcinogenic risk to adults through ingestion. The average HQ_ingestion value of Pb in sediments was 1.96, indicating that the ingestion of the sediments may poses a non-carcinogenic risk to children, As in the sediments at X8–X10 and X15–X17 may pose non-carcinogenic risk to children through ingestion.

Sulfur is one of the main elements controlling the redox reactions in lakes. The nature of the geochemical cycle of sulfur is redox, which will have an important impact on the lake environment during its cycle. The paper discussed the the geochemical cycling mechanism of sulphur in lakes, control factors, and the various possible effects on the environment during the cyclic process. In the study of lake environment, the geochemical cycle of sulfur should be used rationally, for example, its positive effect should be used to improve the lake environment, and the adverse impact on the lake's ecological environment during the sulfur cycle should be reduced as much as possible.

During the mining of mineral resources, it will inevitably cause problems in the mine environment. According to the different ways of expressing environmental problems in mines, they can be divided into three categories: geological disasters, environmental damage and environmental pollution. Among the three mine environmental problems, environmental pollution has characteristics such as concealment, post-hazard hysteresis, watershed diffusion and accumulation, which cause serious damage to the mine environment. This paper focuses on the current status of environmental pollution problems in metal mining.

In the process of industrialization and urbanization, human activities have caused more and more heavy metal lead to enter the surface soil, causing harm to the health of residents. Analysis of the status of lead pollution in urban surface soils in China found that lead pollution in most cities currently exceeds regional background values. The sources of heavy metals in cities mainly include transportation, industrial emissions, and human activities. At present, the methods for determining sources include three methods: multivariate statistical analysis, geographic information systems, and isotope tracing.

The soil body configuration is the most important link in the process of agricultural land remediation. It has a serious impact on the fertility of the rehabilitated land and the economic investment in remediation. Six experimental plots with different tillage layer thickness and transitional layer were constructed manually. After the completion of the plots, the common crop maize in Guanzhong area was planted, and the plant height, chlorophyll, spike diameter and spike length were measured, the yield was calculated, the growth status of maize in different plots were compared. The results showed that the yield of maize was the highest in the plot that the thickness of tillage layer was 60 cm and uesd Loamy loess as transition layer, which was the most suitable soil body configuration for the growth of maize in Guanzhong area.